Apparatus for the manufacture of gas



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1,

R APPARATUS P0 E MA FACTURE OP GAS. l No. 428,956. Patented May 27,1890.

V IWI 1,1 s N U I f l hl I Ik f w :1

(No Model.) `3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. M. ROSE. APPARATUS PGR TH- E MANUFAGTURE OF GAS.

No. 428,956. Patented Mayz'l, 1890..

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. M. ROSE. vAPPAMTUS P01?. THB MANUPAGTURB 0F GAS. No. 428,956.Patented May 27, 1890.

UNITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. ROSE, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MAN'UFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,956, dated May 27,1890.

Application filed June l0, 1889. Serial No. 313,708. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t muy concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. ROSE, a resident of Allegheny, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

My invention relates to the manufacture of gas, having special referenceto apparatus for the manufacture of gas for fuel or heating purposes,though the apparatus may be employed, if desired, for makingilluminatinggas and like purposes. Its object is to provide an apparatusin which avery large body of gases may be rapidly and continuouslyformed, and in which parts of the apparatus may be retained at the highheat necessary for such gas-making purposes, both for the superheatingand decomposition of steam, the decomposition of hydrocarbons, and thelixing of the resultant gases. Y

My apparatus comprises two sets of gasgenerating apparatus, which arepreferably located and operated together, each'such sethaving at thebase thereof two cupola-generators, and above said generators a casingcontaining a heating-furnace or regenerator with which one of saidgenerators communicates, and through which a series of horizontalretorts extend, said rctorts being connected at the ends, and saidheating-furnace having also a vertical cylinder passing through the sameand communicating at the base thereof with the other cupola-generator,whereby the gases formed in one such generator may be burned Within theheating-furnace to maintain the said retorts and vertical cylinder at ahigh heat, the retorts being employed for heating coal, coke, or othercarbon contained in the same, through which steam is passed for themanufacture of .water-gas, While hydrocarbons are introduced into saidvertical cylinder, and, as will hereinafter be described, the gasesformed, together with the further portions of steam, can be-united andsubsequently be iixed by a passage through the heating-furnace andthrough the body of incandescent carbon in one of the cupola-generators,all of which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

My improvements in connection with the said apparatus will bespecifically set forth in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhichl Figure l is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end viewthereof. Fig.3 is a longitudinal section on the line 0c at, Fig. l.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

As above stated, I prefer to employ my invention with two sets ofapparatus, one set being marked A and the other set B. Each set ofapparatus has the same parts thereto, and I will first describe the setof apparatus marked A, the set of apparatus marked B being the same, andlettered the same, except that the letters are marked to distinguishthem from those of the other set of apparatus in the description of theoperation thereof. At the base of the apparatus are thecupola-generatorsO D, the cupola-generator O communieating through aport in the top thereof with the heating-furnace or generator E, whichis built WithinV a suitable plate-metal casing e, this casing and thefurnace being preferably rectangular in shape, as shown.

The cupola-generator O has the air-entrance c, and has also suitablegrate-bars and feeding and discharge doors, as is usual in theconstruction of such generators. It has also the eduction-pipe f leadingtherefrom near the base of the cupola and controlled by the valve F. Thecupola D has the air-port d, and has like grate-bars and feeding anddischarge doors. This cupola D communicates with the vertical cylinderG,Which extends entirely through the heating-furnace and opens into apipe 7L' at the top thereof. Extending through the heating-furnace E arealso one or more steam-superheating pipes M, each of which communicatesat the base thereof With the cupola-generator D, and has at the upperend thereof suitable steam-entrance m, as shown, Extending through theheating-furnace E are a series of horizontal retorts or cylinders K,there being four such cylinders shown in the drawings, and thesecylinders extending through the walls of the heating-furnace audcommunicating with each other at the ends-that is, the two uppercylinders having ICO their communicating pipe 7U shown at the let't ofthe drawings, the middle cylinders having a like communicating pipe 7c.at the right of the drawings, and the end elyinders having t-heircommunicating pipe 7i; atthe left of the dawings, these pipes thereforeforming a continuous course from the top to the bottom of the seriesthrough which the steam maybe passed, and the lower cylinder opening bysuitable valve-controlled ports into the two cupola-generators C D, theopening 'L' into the cupolagenerator C being controlled by a valve L,and the opening j into the cupolagenerator D being controlled by a valveJ. The upper cylinder communicates through a pipe Zwith the pipe 71 saidpipe being controlled by the valve L, and the pipe 7L communieates withthe upper end of the furnace E through the valve ll. Extending betweenthe two sets of apparatus is the pipe N, through which the gases flow,as hereinafter described, in the making of the The heating-iurnace isprovided with a series of arches, as at P, these arches beingarranged inany suitable way so as to deflect the heat from one side to the other ofthe furnace, in order to provide for the proper heating of the retortsand cylinders therein, and being perforated on alternate sides, as at2), to permit the passage of the gases, andthe spaces not occupied bythe said retorts and pipes being filled with checker-work, as at (1, sothat practically all the heat from the burning of the gas therein isstored within said cylinders, the walls ot the furnace, the arches, andthe mass of checker-work serving to maintain a high heat within theretorts and chambers, so that the necessity for reversing at shortintervals is overcome. Suitable air-ports are provided in the upper partof the cupola-generator C and at intervals intheheating-furnace E toprovide for the complete combustion of the producergas employed inheating the same.l The furnace has also the relief-valve Q, which can beopened while the gas is bein g burned within said surface 'for heatingpurposes, as above referred to. The eduction-pipe f communicates throughthe valve F with a pipe R, leading to the hydraulic main orstorage-tank, this pipe R leading into both sets of apparatus, and alsocommunicating with the eduction-pipe f' ot' the other set of apparatusthrough the valve F. Suitable steam-pipes conununieate with the seriesof retorts K-one steam-pipe s communicating with the lower retort and alike steam-pipe f communicating with the upper retort-so that steam canbe fed in either course through said series of retorts. 'lhe saidretorts are closed at their ends by any suitable removable caps, as atvu, which may be clamped by any suitable means upon the ends ot theretorts.

As above referred to, the parts in the set ot apparatus marked 13 arethe same as in the set marked A, and without referring particularly toeach part it will be found that they are lettered the same, except thateach letter is marked with the cupola-generators being ("D, the furnaceE', vertical cylinder G', the.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The severalcupola-generators are iilled with coal or coke, and the several retortsare filled with coa-l, coke, or charcoal, as Vmay be desired. 3y meansof the air-blast gas is generated in the several cupolas, the gases fromthe cupolas C C' being burned in the furnaces E E' and the gases formedin the cupolas D D' being burned in the vertical chambers G i'.lVhentheapparatusisbrought to the proper heat, the relief-valve Q ot'the heating-furnace E is closed, and the valve in the air-supply pipe cto the generator() is closed, while air is continued to the chamber D.Air is also shut oit from the chamber D', but continued within thechamber C of the other set of apparatus. The eduction-valve F, the valvell, the valve Ti iu the Iirst set of apparatus and the valve J in thesecond set ot" apparatus are opened. All th e other valves remainclosed; and it may be here incidentally stated that the valves I and lare not opened during gas-making, being only opened when the cylindersare being emptied ot their carbonaceous materials. Steam is thenadmitted through the steam-inlet t', which passes down through eachsuccessive retort K', passing through the furnace E', the steam beingdecomposed by the incandescent carbon within said retorts orcylinders, and then passing through the valve J and passage/j' into theeupola-generator D'. At the same time steam is admitted through thesteam-entrance m' at the upper end of the vertical superheating-cylinderM', and in passing down through said cylinder the steam is highlysuperheated, and it also enters the cupola-generator D', being forced byits expansion down into the mass of incandescent coke contained therein,and being to some extent decomposed by said incandescent coke. At thesame time oil is sprayed into the cylinder (r through the oilentrance g'at the top thereof, and the water, gas and steam formed in thehorizontal cylinders K and passing from the superheatcr M pass upwardlythrough this cylinder G', meeting the current of liquid hydrocarbons,which, as they descend through said cylinder against the current ofgases are spread, the oil separating into drops, which are again dividedinto smaller globules or spray, and iinally so intermingled with thegases rising through the cylinder that they are vaporized and unite withsaid gases, the gases then passing from the cylinder i' through the pipeN to the valve Il', which is open, as above set forth, so that the gasescan pass down into the heating-fu rnace or regenerator E. At the sametime the air-blast in the cupolagenerator l) is continued, and theproducergas passing upwardly through the cylinder G is intermingled withthe superheated steam, which entered said generator from thesuperheatiugcylinder M, the intermingled pro- IOO ducer-gas andsteamrising through the cylinder G and against the current of liquidhydrocarbons introduced through the oil-entrance g, which descendagainst the current of gases, being intermingled therewith and finallyunited therewith, as described in an application for patent iiled by meon the 14th day of March, 1889, Serial No. 308,313, and these gases alsopass into the pipe 7i, intermingling with the other gases enteringthrough the pipe N and passing downwardly through the regenerator E. Atthe same time steam is admitted through the pipe s at the lower end ofthe series of horizontal cylinders K, and this steam passes through themass of incandescent carbon in the several cylinders and is decomposed,thereby forming water-gas, which passes through the pipe Z and Valve Iiinto the pipe 7L, and thence through the valve H with the other gasesinto the regenerator E. All these gases are ntermingled in thisregenerator E, and they pass through the masses'ot checker-work betweenthe several arches therein, and are properly heated and fixed in saidregenerator or fixing-chamber, the gases then passing downwardly'through the massof incandescent carbon in the cupola-generator C, wherethey are rendered still more stable by the heat thereof, and anycarbonic acid contained therein is converted into carbonio oxide, thegases then passing through the eduction-pipe f and Valve F into the pipeR, and thence to the hydraulic main and tank.

I am thus enabled to obtain a large quantity of gas of high heatingpowers, the gas formed containing a large proportion of hydrogen andcarbonio oxide, as well as a large proportion of marsh-gas or likehydrocarbon ,gases formed by the union of the hydrogen with thelhydrocarbon, and the gas having little or no nitrogen, as but little ofthe producer-gas is employed, and the nitrogen introduced with the airis combined with the hydrogen in the presence of the steam andk body ofhydrocarbons, as described in an application filed by me October 4,1888, Serial No. 287,148, and is consequently absorbed in the hydraulicmain and eliminated from the During this operation the producer-gas fromthe cupola-generator C' is passing into and burning in theheating-furnace or regenerator E', and a suitable quantity of air beingfed thereto, so that a high heat is generated therein, and the severalcylinders passing through the regenerator, together with thechecker-work therein, are raised to ahigh heat and the said regeneratorhighly heated for the fixing ot' the gases on the reversal of theapparatus. The gases passing through this chamber are permitted toescape through the relief-valve Q', or, if desired, may be carried tothe steam-generator and completely consumed.

On the reversal of the apparatus the gases pass in exactly the oppositedirection, and the Valves are reversed', as required, for the purpose,the relief-valve Q' being closed and the relief-Valve Q opened, theValves RII, L, and J being closed and the valves F', H', L', and J beingopened, the air-blast being cut off from the cupola-generators D and C'and opened to the cupola-generatorsD' and O, the producer-gas from thecupola C being employed to again heat up the regenerator or furnace E.Steam is then admitted atthe upper end of the series of horizontalretorts or cylinders K, and passing down through the incandescent carbontherein enters the cupolagenerator D, steam being also admitted to thesuperheating-cylinder M, and passing down into said cupola-generator D,and the combined gases and steam rising through the.

cylinder G against the current of liquid hydrocarbons introducedtherein. Steam is also continued to the superheater M', and passes downinto the cupola-generator D', mingling with the producer-gas therefrom,and rising against the current of liquid hydrocarbon introduced into thecylinder G'. Steamis also introduced at the lower end of the series ofre-v torts K', and passing upwardly through said retorts passes throughthe pipe Z' and Valve" L', the gases all intermingling in the pipe 7L',

and passing through the Valve H', through the heating-furnace E', andthrough the cupola-z generator C to the eduction-pipe f', and throughthe valve F' to the pipe R. In this way it is seen that a high heatmaybe maintained in the entire apparatus proper for the generation ofgases and the fixing of the same, and that a large body of water-gas maybe formed and the gases properly intermingled with the liquidhydrocarbons, whiler the apparatus is compact in form and adapted togenerate a very large body of gases. I am also enabled to utilize theheat obtained in the Iixingchambers for heating a series of retorts anddecomposing steam and forming water-gas in said retorts and to maintainthe heat in said series ot' retorts by the means ot' heated checker-workaround the same, together with the direct combustion formed in one ot'such heating-furnaces around the retorts during the making of gastherein. In case of the distillation of tar or any such substances fromthe coal within such retorts means are provided for introducing the sameinto the cupola-generator below, Where it can be broken up 'and formedinto gases, direct communication being formed with such generatorsthrough the valves I I' and J J', though the mass of such materialswould be taken up with the steam in passing through said body of carbonin the retorts.

If desired, one set of apparatus may be employed instead of the twosets, and the course of the gases formed in the cupola-generator C, andthen the blast being turned off from the saine and the gases passingfrom the series of retorts into the cupola-generator D,

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thence through the vertical cylinder G, and thence down through theheating-furnace E and cupola-generator C to the eduction-pipe. In theuse of the double apparatus in this way a continuous manufacture of gascan be carried on.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A gas-making apparatus having two cupola-generators and aheating-furnace or regenerator above the same, with which 011e of saidcupolagenerators communicates, a vertical cylinder communicating withthe other generator and extending through the heatingfurnace, a seriesof horizontal retorts or cylinders extending through theheating-furnace, and a pipe connecting said vertical cylinder and saidseries of horizontal cylinders, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

2. A gas-making apparatus having two cupola-generators, aheating-furnace above the same, with which one of said cupola-generatorscommunicates, a vertical cylinder communicating with the othercupola-generator and extending through the heating-furnace, a series ofhorizontal retorts communicating with each other and at the lower endwith the second cupola-generator and having a steam-entrance at theupper end thereof, and a pipe connecting said vertical cylinder and saidseries of horizontal cylinders, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

3. A gas-making apparatus having two cupola-generators, aheating-furnace above the same, with which one of said cupola-generatorscommunicates, a vertical cylinder communicating with the othercupola-generator and extending through the heating-furnace, a series ofhorizontal retorts or cylinders extending through the heating-furnace,and a steam-suporheating pipe extending through the heating-f urn ace,having a steam-entrance at its upper end and communicating at its lowerend with a cupola-generator, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. A gas-makin g apparatus havin ga cupolagenerator, a heating-furnaceabove the same, with which said generator communicates, and a series ofhorizontal retorts passing through said heating furnace andcommunicating with each other at their alternate ends, and alsocommunicating at the lower end with said cupola-generator, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

5. A gas-making apparatus having two cupola-generators, aheating-furnace above the same, with which one of said generatorscommunicates, said furnace havin g a seri es of horizontal retortsextending through the same and communicating with each other, andcommunicating through a valve-controlled pipe with a pipe above saidfurnace, and having a vertical cylinder extending through saidheating-furnace and communicating at the base with the othercupola-generator and at the top with said pipe above theheating-furnace, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

G. A gas-making apparatus having two cupola-generators, aheating-furnace above the same, with which one of said generatorscommunicates, said furnace havinga series of horizontal retortsextending through the same and communicating with each other, andcommunicating through a valve-controlled pipe with a pipe above saidfurnace, and having a vertical cylinderl extending through saidheating-furnace and communicating at the base with the othercupola-generator and at the top with said pipe above the heating-sunface, and a valve-controlled entrance from said pipe into the upper endof said heatingfurnace, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a gas-making apparatus the combination of two seis of apparatuseach having two cupolagenerators, a heating -furnace above the same,with which one of said cupola -generators communicates, a series ofhorizontal retorts or cylinders extending through the same andcommunicating with each other and with a pipe above the gas apparatus, avertical cylinder passing through the furnace and communicating at itslower end with the other cupola-generator and at its upper end with thepipe ahove the gas apparatus, and a connecting-pipe between said two'sets of apparatus, whereby the gases formed in one setmay be carriedinto the other set for treating and a continuous gas operation obtained,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said 'JAMES M. ROSE, have hereunto set myhand.

JAMES M. ROSE.

Iitnessesz WM. P. MERCER, B. W. HAINEs.

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